smoke/co2 alarm

silverweed

silverweed

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Any ideas where in the van these should be placed. I purchased one in the summer and it went off continuously. Iv recently swap the van for a Hymer with a front side habitation door with the cooker beside it. The dealer said that they had to now install one by law and put it on ceiling on the other side of the door. The damn thing now watches me and goes off even if I'm only thinking about turning on cooker (well it goes off every time I cook). Does anyone have one installed that works correctly.
 
When we had our house rewired, we had a couple of mains operated smoke alarms installed (I think they had to do this by law also). They sometimes go off whilst cooking. If we are going to be cooking something which is particularly prone to setting them off, we put the covers they were supplied in back on. (They are almost like small shower caps).

Perhaps you could make some.

Or order some of these;

DC1 BRK Smoke Alarm Dust Cover - Fire Protection

Just make sure you remove them after cooking!!
 
Didn't think of that. Will have a go at making something for next time I'm out in the van
 
Possibly a stupid question, but do you take stepsto stop it going off - open windows etc.... OK even in winter we find as the cooking produces heat. Also lets steam out, so less condensation.

Aologies if teaching Granny to suck eggs.
 
Use an Optical smoke detector rather than an Ionization one - less false alarms.
 
I would seriously advise anyone NOT to get in the habit of deactivating their smoke alarm, whether by using dust covers or removing the battery etc. The dust covers are only meant to be used during building or decorating work, when high levels of dust are likely. Despite good intentions, it is very easy to forget to re-activate the alarm afterwards, and many fires have been allowed to develop without warning because of this.

If you are getting too many "nuisance" or false alarms, you could try to re-position the detector, especially if it's too close to the cooker/hob.

Or you can replace the smoke alarm with one that has a "hush" button. If it activates whilst cooking etc., you press this hush button and the alarm will be silenced for around ten minutes, without you having to remember to reset it afterwards.

Or you could do as Sparrks says, and fit an "optical" type smoke alarm.

(There are two main types of smoke alarm, the most common being the "ionisation" type which will detect most fires more quickly, and the "optical" type which are not so sensitive, as they react to larger smoke particles. Optical type smoke alarms are more suited to kitchen areas as they are less likely to react to normal cooking fumes.)

Heres an example of a smoke alarm with "hush" button....
Amazon.co.uk: Kidde KID0910UKB Smoke Alarm

And here's an example of an "optical" type....
10 Year Longlife Battery Optical Smoke Alarm - Kidde 10Y29: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Whichever type you fit, it should always be fixed to the highest point of the room (ceiling) as this is where smoke will first collect. If you fit it lower down, it may not activate until the higher level has filled with smoke, so your reaction and escape time will be greatly reduced.
 
Thought I might get pulled on that at some point. Just what we do. I've never forgotten yet and I'm sure it's better than not having any at all as many do not. However, you are of course right and I can only say that is what I do so should not really recommend it to others.

I also go out at night without any reflective clothing, but that's just me. I like to live on the edge!
 
Robmac said:
Thought I might get pulled on that at some point. Just what we do. I've never forgotten yet and I'm sure it's better than not having any at all as many do not. However, you are of course right and I can only say that is what I do so should not really recommend it to others.

I also go out at night without any reflective clothing, but that's just me. I like to live on the edge!
Click to expand...

Lol, nothing personal, that's just my standard lecture on smoke alarms! And I really have seen the results of deactivating a smoke alarm on many, many, occasions. That's why I advise against it! :)
 
scampa said:
Lol, nothing personal, that's just my standard lecture on smoke alarms! And I really have seen the results of deactivating a smoke alarm on many, many, occasions. That's why I advise against it! :)
Click to expand...

You are right though. I would be devastated if anybody came to grief after taking advice from me!
 
It sounds like you have one unit which combines smoke and Carbon Monoxide. Personally, I would never buy one of these.

My reason is that a smoke alarm is normally fitted to the ceiling because heat (and therefore smoke) rises. Carbon monoxide has roughly the same density as air and is no good when fitted on the ceiling.

I have seen advice where the CO alarm should be fitted at around the same height as your head while you are sleeping. My advice is to google for professional advice before you buy and fit these alarms.
 
We have 2 alarms in the bedroom, one fitted on the ceiling which seems to go off anytime we are cooking (have to try to remember to close the divider & leave the window open which isn't always possible as it only has the on stop when the window is wide open) the other alarm is low down but has a switch next to it. Have to look & see if the alarm has a hush button, doesn't just make a noise it tells us 'fire evacuate the building'.
 
CO Carbon MONOXIDE

Just to emphasise that the detectors are CO - Carbon Monoxide, not CO2 - Carbon Dioxide
 
I recently visited a Motorhome dealer and went into their shop. I picked C0 alarm and headed for the counter to ask the salesman "where to you install this". His reply was "in your van" needless to say I turned round and put it back on the shelf
 
safety first

I have a small motorhome but have 3 smoke and 2 CO alarms - don't trust one electronic item to be functioning properly when i need it to save my life. I have an optical smoke alarm it kitchen end, and 2 ionisation, one in seating/bed area and one in wardrobe where zig unit, gas controls and fuse boxes are. I have one electronic CO and one chemical (the orange blob turns black with CO).
 
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